South African wheelchair tennis star Kgothatso Montjane’s 2026 Wimbledon campaign has ended in the ladies’ wheelchair doubles semi-finals, where she and long-time partner Lucy Shuker of Great Britain fell 6-3, 6-2 to top seeds Yui Kamiji and Zhu Zhenzhen at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, England on Thursday, 9 July 2026.
Montjane and Shuker had booked their place in the last four with a battling three-set quarter-final victory over Ksenia Chasteau of France and Jiske Griffioen of the Netherlands, recovering from a second-set fightback to close out the match 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 on Wednesday, 8 July 2026.
The semi-final proved a step too far against Kamiji and Zhu, the reigning French Open champions, who claimed the Roland Garros doubles title together in June and proved too consistent for the South African and British pairing.
The run carried special significance for the partnership, which last reached a Wimbledon final together in 2021. Shuker has since confirmed that she will retire from professional wheelchair tennis at the end of the 2026 season, making this her farewell appearance at the Championships.
“It hasn’t been easy. It’s been a long process coming to the decision that this is going to be my last Wimbledon and last year on tour.”
Great Britain’s Iconic Wheelchair Tennis Player, Lucy Shuker
The pairing has long drawn strength from contrasting styles, with Shuker’s touch at the net complementing Montjane’s power from the back of the court.
“Doubles allows me to use my flair, so use the hands. KG’s reach and movement at the back of the court, and hustling, ball striking is incredible at the moment as well so it gives me confidence,” said Shuker.
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Montjane, who was born with amniotic band syndrome and competes with racquet modifications to accommodate her grip, continued to use the Wimbledon stage to advance conversations about the future of wheelchair tennis. While Shuker favours greater categorisation to open the sport to athletes with more profound disabilities, Montjane believes the game should keep pace with the able-bodied tour, even backing a reduction of the bounce allowance from two to one.
“The sport is evolving; the draws are growing in grand slams, so why not keep it competitive like everybody.”
Wimbledon 2026 Semi-Finalist, South Africa’s Kgothatso Montjane
Attention now turns to the US Open, where Montjane is set to gain direct entry while Shuker faces a qualification battle, leaving the future of the partnership uncertain. Whatever unfolds, Montjane made clear what the Briton has meant to her career.
“Coming from Africa, Lucy’s one of the players that I’ve gotten close to, she’s introduced me to the tour, made me comfortable around the tour, so she’ll be sorely missed if she stopped, because she’s always made the environment quite easy for me,” said Montjane.
Main Photo Caption: Kgothatso Montjane and doubles partner Lucy Shuker reached the semi-finals of the ladies’ wheelchair doubles before falling to top seeds, and eventual 2026 champions, Yui Kamiji and Zhu Zhenzhen, at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London, England on Thursday, 9 July 2026. Photo: Tennis South Africa
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